Testimony: Penney's Johnson mocked Macy's in emails

J.C. Penney CEO was playing friendly with Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren, even as Johnson was secretly planning to move to secure Martha Stewart's line of housewares for the Plano-based retailer, according to emails revealed in the trial of Macy's lawsuit against Stewart and Penney's.

Macy's is suing Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) over the deal the two cut to place Stewart's products in "shops" inside of Penney stores. Macy's had a longstanding relationship with Stewart in selling her products and filed suit shortly after the Penney/Martha Stewart deal was announced.

"Thank you, Terry. Your note means a lot to me," Johnson replied, according to the Post. "I consider you a friend."

But the plans for a Penney/Stewart alliance already were in the works at the time, according to testimony.

Johnson also, at that time, was exchanging less-than-flattering emails with colleagues about Macy's, the Post said. One email said that Macy's management looked "asleep at the wheel," according to the Post.

On Monday, Macy's CEO Lundgren related to the court that he hung up on Stewart when she called him to inform him of the deal with Penney. Lundgren told the court that he and his wife once considered Stewart a friend, but no longer do so.